It’s hard to believe
that I have been here for almost an entire month now. This is my last full week
here, and while I am looking forward to going back to my regular routine at
Chit, to be perfectly honest, I’m really gonna miss being here. This has been a
great learning experience both in language and culturally.
Where to begin with
filling in the details?
I started my time here
with a village trip to Lwitali which was totally amazing! Imagine a Bible
Conference under a Mango tree and you might begin to comprehend the setting. Of
course, add to it no English and 4 different languages and you might understand
why I felt a bit dazed for most of the trip. We travelled with a Lochazi couple
Samukunga and Nyamukunga and their granddaughter Nyakatiki, along with two other
brothers, Soza and Sapezo. All of whom were enormously sweet and patient as I
massacred their language and their cultural customs. I learned a lot from them
about kalemesha (cultural politeness and respect) and language, but especially
from little Nyakatiki, 3, who maybe is about where I am at… hmmm… no…
definitely light years ahead of me still J
It was hot and there
were innumerable flies, but there was also the startling clarity of the reality
there is something more important than these: God’s grace and His love and His
truth. And how many eager hearts there are for these, and how many hearts
unknowing or uncaring. God loved each
individual person so much that He willing sacrificed His Son so that any person
and every person who willingly trusts Him alone as Saviour will not perish but
live eternally with Him. In the evenings, Soza, Samakunga and Sepezo went
into neighbouring villages
It had been suggested
that I have a Bible lesson ready for the kiddos, but time escaped from us and I
didn’t have the opportunity then to share it. But not a problem, I am looking
forward to returning to Chit and using it for the Colony Sunday school there.
As well, having one done, I have more confidence to start a second one!
The following Saturday
we made another trip out about half as far as Lwitali, to another village
Chikenge. There are 6 assemblies (churches) in the area who get together on a
monthly basis for a whole day of meetings; so each assembly is responsible for
hosting the meetings twice a year. These meetings also were given in Lochazi,
so again, even if I had tried to work at understanding what they had been
saying there would have been little hope ;)
What I have appreciated
most though, is the warmth and friendliness of the people we have visited, (even
for a stranger and one that doesn’t know much of the language beyond polite
greetings). When we visited in Lwitali, they came bringing gifts: cassava meal,
a chicken, the arm and leg of a goat. Being part of these trips has given
valuable insight into the customs and the kalemesha of the culture.
We’ve also been having a
number of people from around needing to be brought in to hospital. So, interspersed
with these village trips have been frequent stops at Loloma MH. It has been
great to visit another hospital and see different ways of managing things in
hospital. But I’ve also been especially glad to have the extra opportunities to
spend time with Rebekah and share experiences and fun times!
And, when we are not
running off around the country side, I am studying, or at least trying to
study! I have picked up a new tense (I was …ing – I was sitting; I was calling,
etc), along with many new words that I am trying to use frequently to own them.
Recently, I have been trying to work through the subjunctive mood… still not
quite sure of what it is so won’t try to explain it. However, the subjunctive
includes some very polite ways to ask people to do things, along with a more
concise way of explaining something that should happen in the future, so am
muddling through it in the hopes I might master some of it enough to be able to
use in hospital when I get back. The cool thing is, although I still don’t know
quite how to use it, I have been able to use it in conversation the past few
days, and be understood… so maybe there is hope yet.
Every afternoon I go to
visit one of two ladies who are of the Lunda tribe. This is probably the
hardest, but the most fun and the richest learning opportunities. I’ve enjoyed
getting to know these two ladies and their families and am deeply appreciative
for the time they are taken to share with me their language.
I wish I could explain
to you all back home what I am seeing and experiencing here. Pictures do not do
it justice and neither could my words. It is so incredible. Now the rains have
come, the foliage is springing up a beautiful green with the slightest hue of
blue. There are some of the most beautiful flowers. Little villages, houses of
sun dried bricks some with tin roofs, some with grass roofs, children
everywhere! And animals everywhere! When we go visiting I am continually
astounded by the generosity and the general sociability of the people. It is
truly a privilege to be here! And not just here in Katombi though I count that
one of the greatest privileges, but here in Zambia in general.
While I am very much going to miss being here
and look forward with anticipation to being able to return in the New Year, I am
excited to go back to Chit and welcome my close friend Genna into my home there
for two weeks!
The heavens declare the beauty of the Lord, and
the sky proclaims His handiwork. Their voice goes out through the whole earth
and their words to the ends of the world
